Congressman David Rivera’s Week in Review: Week of July 9th

Washington, DC- Congressman David Rivera was in Washington DC last week.

Congressman Rivera: President Obama Needs to Recognize Threat Posed by Hugo Chavez’s Venezuela

Congressman Rivera released the following statement on Wednesday regarding President Barack Obama’s comments that Hugo Chavez’s Venezuela has not posed a serious national security threat to the United States. 

“It is extremely disconcerting that President Obama has chosen to turn a blind eye to Hugo Chavez.  The threat that Chavez’s Venezuela represents is growing from a looming specter in our hemisphere to a concrete reality with a worldwide network.  Venezuela has already demonstrated hostility towards the United States, establishing well-documented ties with other dictators around the world, including Fidel Castro in Cuba, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran and Bashar al-Assad in Syria—all designated as State Sponsors of Terrorism by our own State Department.  Most recently, it has come to light that the Venezuelan Air Force was illegally buying munitions from vendors in the United States that were selling parts without a license. 

“In addition to his ties with other dictatorial regimes, Chavez has a dangerous track record.  There is evidence that Venezuela is establishing itself as a cyber warfare center, and that the now expelled Consulate General in Miami was linked to a potential cyber attack on the United States involving affiliates of the Iranian, Cuban and Venezuelan regimes.  Chavez has welcomed and provided direct military assistance to terrorist groups like the FARC.  He has likewise provided safe havens for narco-terrorist and their drug trade as reports have shown that one third of the world’s cocaine, more than 30 tons of Colombian cocaine, pass through Venezuela each year.

“While President Obama seems aware of the lack of free and democratic elections and the violations of human rights in Venezuela, that is only the tip of the iceberg of the threat that Hugo Chavez poses.”

Congressman Rivera Votes for Repeal: Job-Killing Health Care Law Places Heavy Burden on Job Creators & American Families

Congressman Rivera released the following statement on Wednesday regarding the vote by the House of Representatives to repeal the Affordable Care Act. 

“Today the House of Representatives voted once again to repeal the job-killing health care law.  Last month’s Supreme Court decision confirmed the worry that this law is a tax hike that the American people can’t afford. 

“The job-killing health care law places a heavy burden on job creators and American families. In fact, the average American family will pay $1,200 more per year in heath care premiums following the enactment of the law.  It imposes new taxes on the American people, wildly grows federal spending, and impedes hiring— things we can ill-afford as our national debt nears $16 trillion and the unemployment rate has been at eight percent or more for 41 consecutive months. This irresponsible bill imposes onerous costs and regulations on small businesses, guts benefits for seniors and the disabled and leaves future generations holding the bag.

“We took this vote today because it is in the best interest of our nation’s economy to repeal the job-killing health care law and to replace it with common sense reforms that address what is wrong with America’s health insurance system.  We must pass legislation that lower costs and protect American jobs, not threaten them. We must move toward a system that welcomes patient choice and flexibility, instead of more government involvement, by ensuring Americans the ability to make medical decisions without bureaucratic interference.

“Repealing the job-killing, tax-hiking health care law would provide the opportunity to implement lasting health care reform that gets Washington out of the way and gives Americans control over their medical decisions.”

Notable Meetings: Associated Builders and Contractors

Congressman Rivera met with members of the Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter on Tuesday.  Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national association of construction and construction-related firms and the nation’s largest free market advocacy program.  The organization was founded in 1950 in Baltimore, MD with seven members.  Today, ABC has 80 chapters and represents more than 22,000 firms across the country that employ nearly two million employees.  The Florida East Coast Chapter was founded in 1968 to represent the interests of merit shop contractors from Melbourne to the Florida Keys. 

Notable Meetings: American Israel Public Affairs Committee

Congressman Rivera met with Richard and Sharon Browdy, members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), on Tuesday.  AIPAC’s mission is to strengthen ties between the United  States and Israel.  The committee has more than 100,000 members throughout all 50 states who promote the U.S.-Israel relationship. 

District Activities: Honoring Former Marlin Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez

On Saturday Congressman Rivera presented former Florida Marlins catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez with a flag that was flown over the United States Capitol on the field at Marlins Park as part of a pregame ceremony that included a recreation of one of the greatest plays in Marlins history from the 2003 National League Division Series against the San Francisco Giants.  That year Rodriguez and the Marlins went on to win the World Series against the New York Yankees. 

During his major league career, which spanned two decades, Rodriguez played for the Marlins, the Texas Rangers, the Detroit Tigers, the New York Yankees, the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals.  He was a 14-time All-Star, a 13-time Golden Glove Award winner and a seven-time Silver Slugger Award winner.  Rodriguez was named American League MVP in 1999 and National League Championship Series MVP in 2003.

Notable Votes: H.R. 4402- National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act

Congressman Rivera voted in favor of H.R. 4402, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012.  The bill would streamline the approval of domestic mineral exploration and development projects by eliminating duplicative analysis, providing for timely filings for litigants, allowing 30 months for the lead agency to prepare, consider and reach a decision on permitting for mine development.  The bill would also expedite the permitting process. 

Congressman Rivera has also taken votes to support legislation to create jobs and improve the economy, including:

H.R. 872: Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act

H.R. 910: Energy Tax Prevention Act

H.J.Res. 37: Disapproval of FCC’s Net Neutrality Regulations

H.R. 2018: Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act

H.R. 1315: Consumer Financial Protection and Soundness Improvement Act

H.R. 2587: Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act

H.R. 2401: Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation Act

H.R. 2681: Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act

H.R. 2250: EPA Regulatory Relief Act

H.R. 2273: Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act

H.R. 3094: Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act

H.R. 527: Regulatory Flexibility Improvement Act

H.R. 3010: Regulatory Accountability Act

H.R. 1904: Southeast Arizona Resource Utilization & Conservation Act

H.R. 1070: Small Company Capital Formation Act

H.R. 1965: Small Banks’ Access to Capital Act

H.R. 2930: Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act

H.R. 2940: Access to Capital for Job Creators Act

H.R. 3012: Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act

H.R. 1230: Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act

H.R. 1229: Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act

H.R. 1231: Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act

H.R. 2021: Jobs and Energy Permitting Act

H.R. 1938: North American-Made Energy Security Act

H.Con.Res. 34: Budget for Fiscal Year 2012

H. Res. 516: Importance of Passing A Fiscal Year 2013 Federal Budget

H.R. 1173: Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act of 2011

H.R. 3567: Welfare Integrity Now for Children and Families Act

H.R. 3582: Pro-Growth Budgeting Act of 2011

H.R. 10: Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2011

H.R. 3578: Baseline Reform Act of 2011

H.R. 3606: Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act

H.R. 436: Health Care Cost Reduction Act of 2012

For more information on these job creating measures and the House Republican Plan for America’s Job Creators, visit www.jobs.gop.gov.